The baboon’s eyes widened in disbelief as it collapsed unwillingly to the ground, while Bai Nian landed steadily right in front of it.
[Mission complete. Rewards have been distributed.]
The System’s voice sounded in her mind, and at that instant, her body finished its strengthening.
Bai Nian glanced at her still slender, fair arms.
At this moment, though, they were brimming with tremendous strength.
If she had to face the same baboon now, she was confident she could kill it in just a few strikes.
Not far away, the three others stared at her, utterly shocked.
Bai Nian tilted her head and smiled at them.
Before anyone could say a word, the scene before their eyes rippled like water, stirring up waves…
In the blink of an eye, the four of them had returned to the real world.
Almost simultaneously, they all turned to look behind—only to see that the massive Disaster Gate had already vanished.
“It’s been cleared?!”
Shi Gao exclaimed in surprise.
Bai Nian, on the other hand, lifted her arm and looked at the new Divine Mark on the back of her hand.
Three golden lines wove together, seeming to form a particular pattern.
“Master Bai, please accept your disciple’s bow!”
Zhang Kun suddenly shouted, immediately kneeling down.
“Huh? Captain, what are you doing!”
Bai Nian looked utterly confused.
“You were so cool! From now on, you’re my idol. Please teach me how to use a blade!”
Zhang Kun crawled forward a couple more steps, as if he wanted to hug Bai Nian’s legs.
“I… I’ve never taught anyone before.”
She looked a little troubled, but when she met Zhang Kun’s determined gaze, she relented.
“I can teach you, Captain, but there’s no need for any master-disciple business…”
“That works too.”
Zhang Kun stood up right away, acting as if nothing had happened.
“Who would’ve thought, Bai Nian? I never imagined you’d be this amazing.”
Li Qian praised her, “This time, it’s all thanks to you. Otherwise, things would have gotten troublesome.”
“Hehe, it was nothing,” Bai Nian said a bit shyly.
“You all did great too.”
Phew, pretending to talk like a girl is exhausting.
I just can’t change my personality all at once.
She complained inwardly.
“Let’s go. Once we’re done registering, we can leave,” Zhang Kun called out.
The clearing of this Second-Tier battle gate took the Heavenly Dynasty Nine Provinces members by complete surprise.
After all, they had intelligence on the Hunter Guild squad that entered.
A four-person squad, with two of them being Life Professions, actually cleared a Second-Tier Gate?
“Captain Zhang, your bravery is unmatched. If word of today gets out, people might think it’s exaggerated. You’re all about to become famous in the Hunter Guild.”
Their counterpart praised them generously, making everyone feel a bit embarrassed.
After all, most of them had just been coasting along.
But Bai Nian seemed completely unfazed, quietly lowering her head to play with her phone.
“May I ask which of you bears the Divine Mark? We need to confirm who the main hero is.”
Zhang Kun and the others immediately stepped aside, and Bai Nian looked up in confusion.
The Heavenly Dynasty Nine Provinces members all looked astonished as well.
The Divine Mark was on a Life Profession?
The assignment of the Divine Mark never goes wrong, which meant this girl in front of them had contributed the most to the mission.
But as official personnel, they were the picture of professionalism and didn’t ask further.
They simply proceeded with the registration as usual.
After Bai Nian and her companions left, the Heavenly Dynasty Nine Provinces members couldn’t hold back anymore and started discussing among themselves.
“Captain, this Bai Nian is from the Bai Clan, right? I remember hearing that the Bai Clan produced a genius this year.”
“Idiot, haven’t you watched the news? This Bai Nian is the eldest daughter of the Head of the Bai Family. She left the clan after awakening a Life Profession.”
“Wait, a Life Profession can have three Divine Marks already? Is she really a ‘failure’?”
They discussed, while the captain thought for a moment before speaking, “I’ll report to the deacon. A talent like this shouldn’t go unnoticed—she might even catch the attention of Kunlun.”
“Captain, are you kidding? Kunlun only accepts one in ten thousand geniuses. A Life Profession… let’s be realistic…”
“Who can say what the future holds?” the captain retorted.
“Alright, everyone, pack up and get ready to withdraw.”
***
In the wilderness, a military green Jinp Jeep sped down a rugged dirt road.
In the back seat, Bai Nian took out the Second-Tier Disaster Core and looked at Zhang Kun up front.
“Captain, this Disaster Core was everyone’s achievement. Do you still want it?”
She meant that Zhang Kun would pay for it, and the three of them would split the money, leaving the core for him.
A Second-Tier Disaster Core was worth a hundred thousand—more than all her assets combined.
Even if split four ways, plus the bounty, it was still quite a sum.
“Li Qian, do you want it?”
Zhang Kun didn’t answer Bai Nian.
Instead, he asked Li Qian first.
Li Qian shook her head.
“No, a First-Tier one is enough for me. Second-Tier is too expensive.”
She had only become a hunter to make a living, not to grow stronger.
“Then I’ll take it,” Zhang Kun said.
“But Bai Nian contributed the most this time—my share goes to her.”
“Eh, Captain, you can’t do that. We all contributed.”
Bai Nian hurriedly refused.
“No way. You shouldn’t walk away empty-handed,” Li Qian said.
“How about this? Bai Nian takes half, and the three of us split the rest. Shi Gao, do you have any objections?”
“What objections could I have?” he said weakly.
“Then it’s settled!”
Li Qian finalized, not giving Bai Nian any chance to protest.
The three of them knew her situation well—a girl living alone needed financial support.
Very soon, night fell.
Zhang Kun found a patch of open land and parked the car there.
Traveling at night wasn’t suitable, and besides, they needed to rest.
“We’ll camp here tonight. Everyone takes turns keeping watch. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow. We should reach the Fifteenth Gate before noon.”
Zhang Kun turned to everyone as he spoke.
Each of them took their luggage from the trunk and, before darkness set in, pitched a tent.
“Bai Nian, want to share a tent with big sis?”
Li Qian offered with a smile.
Bai Nian shook her head quickly.
“No, I’m used to sleeping alone.”
“How about me?”
Shi Gao suddenly squeezed over, grinning mischievously.
“Get lost. You’re better off bunking with the Captain,” she teased.
Upon hearing this, Shi Gao instantly clenched his backside.
“Then never mind. I don’t want to risk my innocence.”
Just then, Zhang Kun returned with some firewood in his arms.
“Are you talking bad about me again?”
The three of them all shook their heads repeatedly.
Night soon descended, and darkness enveloped this remote land.
The orange-red glow of the campfire dispelled a small patch of the darkness, casting the four’s shadows.
At this moment, they were seated by the fire, eating their dinner, truly experiencing the feeling of camping in the wild.